Chinaman's Hat spider

Dolophones turrigera, family Araneidae

Identification

Broad-bodied brown spider with curved profile that allows the spider to wrap around branches. Red-orange flashes of colour at base of legs and orange under body. Leg span about 30mm.

Distribution

Eastern Australia.

Web

A circular or orb-web, only constructed at night and consists of very widely spaced spirals.

Bite

Not prone to bite; none recorded.

Notes

Remains wrapped around twigs with which it is perfectly camouflaged during the day. However, wasps hunting spiders during the day trigger the spider to move and hence to become provisions for the wasp's larvae.

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